Researchers from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and Sony Corp. have developed an origami-inspired manipulator, the mini-RCM, which could make robotic surgery more portable.

maxon said its GPX UP planetary gear is ideal for applications that demand extreme torque and power output, smooth back-drivability, long life, and high efficiency in a small volume.

The mission includes precision motors from maxon for a robotic arm for handling samples and a novel helicopter.

ATI developed a space-rated force/torque sensor for the Perseverance Rover, which will explore the Martian surface.

GAM released its new GSL series of strain wave gearboxes. The new gearboxes provide zero-backlash and high torque in a small gearbox for robotic and motion control applications. The GSL gearbox uses harmonic gearing for a very compact design that easily integrates into applications requiring high ratios and high precision in a small form factor.…

The absolute multi-turn encoder kits from POSITAL FRABA are designed to run without battery backup, be compact and resistant to dust, and be easy to install.

The Engine has invested in RISE Robotics, which is developing electric and mechanical systems to displace hydraulics and reduce energy consumption.

Oriental Motor’s new DR Series compact electric cylinders are equipped with 28mm AZ Series or PKP Series stepper motors.

maxon motors’ new EPOS4 Micro 24/5 CAN controller provides the same functionality as the rest of maxon’s EPOS4 line bu at a smaller size.

Harmonic Drive opened new facilities in Beverly, Mass., adding manufacturing capacity for its high-precision gears, which are used in robotics and other applications.

Innovative Mechatronic Systems, which has developed the Archimedes Drive for low backlash, has received funding from ABB and InnovationQuarter.

North American sales of machine vision systems and components that provide intelligence to robots and other machines were down 4.6% through the first three quarters of the year. Meanwhile, Q3 orders in the motion control and motor suppliers space were up 1.9% through the first three quarters. The machine vision numbers were reported from the…

STMicroelectronics and maxon are teaming up to accelerate the design of robotics applications and industrial servo drives. The companies will demo a jointly developed servo control kit at the sps 2019 tradeshow in Nuremberg from November 26-28. The EVALKIT-ROBOT-1 is a plug-and-play solution aimed to help users easily approach the world of precise positioning and…

Harvard University researchers have found a way to make soft actuators powerful enough to enable a RoboBee to fly and collide.

Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a way to build soft robots that are compact, portable and multifunctional. The advance was made possible by creating soft, tubular actuators whose movements are electrically controlled, which makes them easy to integrate with small electronic components. As a proof of concept, engineers used these…

Researchers at the University of Toronto have created a small robot that can crawl like an inchworm. Electrothermal actuators could one day transform industries from aviation to smart wearables.

Nanobots, or microscopic robots, could change drug delivery, cancer treatment, and surgery, but much work remains to be done.

maxon Group of Taunton, MA has hired John Uzzolino to head up the business development activities for the Parvalux product line in the United States. As the Business Development Manager for Parvalux, Uzzolino will be responsible for managing and promoting the Parvalux products in the United States, initially focusing on the industrial and e-mobility markets.…

Researchers in Singapore and China have proposed a process flow to guide 3D printing of miniature soft pneumatic actuators. Robots with integrated prints could have applications in jet-engine maintenance and minimally invasive surgery.

In this contributed piece, Kollmorgen engineers describe environmental factors to watch for that could affect the performance of robot motors, gears, and sensors.

Robots for assistive, therapeutic, medical, and surgical use have strict motion control requirements. A panel at the Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum will discuss what designers and users need to know.

Providing the right motor for small precision devices can be challenging, as New Scale Robotics found when it designed a parallel gripper for cobots.